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Pacers, Timberwolves not living up to billing

Entering the 2004-05 season, I was bent on telling anyone who would listen all about how great the 2005 NBA Finals were going to be. And it usually went without saying that the two participants were going to be Indiana's Pacers and the mighty Minnesota Timberwolves. Actually, it usually went with saying -- I couldn't stop talking about it. Obviously, I don't fare too well in mixed company.

As it stands, following a Monday night loss at the hands of the 76ers, the Pacers are out of the playoff bracket. Following an embarrassing Sunday afternoon setback to a depleted Sacramento Kings squad, the Timberwolves are clinging on to that eighth seed in the West by mere percentage points. The Finals matchup probably isn't in the offing, and I'll never be invited back to those dinner parties.

The Pacers aren't making many excuses -- no point in that with 39 games left to play, though it hardly matters. The genesis of their problems is a stash of walking wounded that had them struggling to dress double figures even before the December melee in Auburn Hills. Minnesota's problems are multifold, and less tangible. There is an air of contentedness that pervades the being of too many of their core players, laughable considering the relative playoff mediocrity of their conference finals appearance last season.

Minnesota had a nice little stretch to round out the month of January, winning seven out of ten with a revamped starting lineup. Still, four of those wins came at home, and five came against teams well below the Timberwolves in the standings. And their hiccup against the Kings, who were missing Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic, was telling. On paper, a group included Brad Miller, Mike Bibby and Cuttino Mobley actually seems to match up favorably against a Wolves team that seems increasingly reliant on Kevin Garnett and little else.

Though Wally Szczerbiak has flourished since coach Flip Saunders made him his sixth man, averaging 17.5 points on 54 percent from the floor, his high shooting percentage is more an indication of his ability to nail the shots he gets off. If the man could hoist it 20 times a game, he would. For now, the T'wolves are struggling with a second offensive option that can be taken out of the action for quarters at a time.

Indiana's second option finally got his stroke back Monday night in Philly, as Stephen Jackson scored 24 points on just 15 shots, but it has been an uneasy return to action. Understandably, the Pacers are a team without an identity. They struggle to defend as well as they've done in the past, they limp in transition on both ends of the floor, and their offensive spacing continually frustrates Jermaine O'Neal. When Rick Carlisle's plan is executed, O'Neal is given plenty of room to work, as evidenced by his 55-point explosion against Milwaukee last December. Too often, though, he is left to force a tough jumper amidst a sea of outstretched arms.

Too often, in fact, the entire Pacers team seems to enjoy forcing those sorts of shots. The freedom afforded the Pacer also-rans during the stretch of injury and suspensions allowed for an "anyone can be the hero" mindset that they seem incapable of tempering as the team's prime players return to action. Even Reggie Miller, who rightfully has been lauded in the press for his graceful adaptation to a lesser role, can't help but fire up a few ill-advised 25-footers in a halfcourt set. Though the 39-year old has turned in a solid season thus far, Reg is trying to do too much with the ball.

Like it or not, the spark that made Ron Artest so unpredictable was the very thing that made the Pacers so dangerous. His ability to dominate in different areas, attempting passes nobody expected him to try, or in taking shots nobody expected him to make, kept opponents on edge and the Pacers in every game. As good as O'Neal is as a do-everything forward who can score everywhere and nail his free throws, it is the very orthodox nature of his skill set that precludes the Pacers from surprising anyone.

The same flightiness evident in Artest's game drives Minnesota point man Sam Cassell as well. Sam has been in and out of the T'wolves' lineup all season, and hardly effective in the games he does play, due to equal parts injury and ennui. Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale has just over three weeks until the trading deadline to determine whether or not Cassell, who when healthy is as good a point guard as this game boasts, will ever remind us of the player who helped dominate the West last season alongside KG.

Both teams can still make this work. Though their flaws are many and well-publicized, entering the playoffs as a seventh or eighth seed is a far better option than tanking things and starting anew 2005-06. Each squad can subscribe to the same "anything can happen in a seven-game series" mantra that every playoff contender outside of San Antonio has been repeating to itself since the season tipped off. In fact, Saunders' offense has as good a chance as any of taking down the Spurs, who are easily playing the best defense of the Tim Duncan Era.

To do that, however, Indiana and Minnesota will have to win at least half of the games they have remaining, a task that has proven exceedingly difficult as the season lopes onward.

Champs

Those Spurs have won three straight, 12 of 16 in January, and Manu Ginobili has rounded into an exceptional player. Though we conceded that it was imperative that San Antonio re-sign Manu last summer, some questioned the length and breadth of a contract given to a 27-year old who had yet to average over 13 points per game in the NBA. Ginobili has responded by averaging 22.5 points on 61 percent shooting from the floor, alongside 2.5 steals and nearly four assists a game over the past six contests.

The Spurs play seven of their nine February games on the road, but buttressed by the All-Star break, we think they'll be just fine.

Chumps

The overriding theme of this article is apparently how off I've been when it comes to crystal balling, and today's "Chump" is no exception. Alongside many others, I was tantalized by Darius Miles' brief showing of brilliance in the latter part of the 2003-04 season -- and knowing full well that he was in a contract year after being traded twice in 18 months. It was obviously a case of wanting the man to succeed and fulfill his potentially brilliant potential.

Well, so far the boy has failed. Miles has come through with stiflingly average play after the Trail Blazers re-signed him to a lucrative deal over the offseason, in spite of being given chance after chance by the Portland coaching staff. In turn, he engaged in a nasty row with coach Maurice Cheeks, whose credentials include an NBA title, four All-Star appearances and the apparent patience of a saint in dealing with one of sport's most embarrassing franchises.

Miles was suspended for two contests as a result, and you would have heard nary a peep from anyone involved with this league had the Trail Blazers suspended him for 10 times as many games.

Ruminations

• Slowly, Houston's spacing is getting a lot better, and Yao Ming is flourishing. The big man had 23 points on 11 of 15 shooting in Houston's solid road win over the Celtics on Monday, in just 29 minutes. But zero assists? Would it kill a Rocket to try dashing through the lane on occasion?

• The Grizzlies have won three of four since Pau Gasol went down with an inflamed arch, but James Posey hit the injured list over the weekend, and the February schedule could be a bit of a bear. Help could be on the way, because after Tuesday's impending 132-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns, they have just one game (at home against in the Clippers) over the next six days. The Grizz should be able to maintain their won/loss edge of the Lakers and Timberwolves, who are having issues of their own.

• The real Baby Shaq is down in Orlando, where Dwight Howard is averaging 10.5 points, shooting 50 percent from the floor, pulling in 9.8 rebounds, blocking 1.7 shots in 31.7(!) minutes per game. Not too many 19-year old big men can waltz into this league and stay on the court for two-thirds of every contest. Man, Howard is going to be something else.

Quoted, Unfortunately

"Our main goal is to win the Atlantic Division. We don't care about records."

--- Allen Iverson. That's probably for the best.

So Long And Thanks For All The Fish.

If you've done 6 impossible things today?
Then why not have Breakfast at Milliways!

Re: Pacers, Timberwolves not living up to billing

The freedom afforded the Pacer also-rans during the stretch of injury and suspensions allowed for an "anyone can be the hero" mindset that they seem incapable of tempering as the team's prime players return to action. Even Reggie Miller, who rightfully has been lauded in the press for his graceful adaptation to a lesser role, can't help but fire up a few ill-advised 25-footers in a halfcourt set. Though the 39-year old has turned in a solid season thus far, Reg is trying to do too much with the ball.

Is this just not wrong?

-Bball

Nuntius was right. I was wrong. Frank Vogel has retained his job.

------

"A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."

Re: Pacers, Timberwolves not living up to billing

uhh well let's see. If you take the paragraph as is, then it is wrong, however if you read the overallpoint he is making then it's close to correct.

JO clearly is unhappy (and not only he) with the insufficient spacing, the lack of movement has been discussed here more then enough and Reg taking some ill advised shots is a clear thing, as for instance the last game where he takes a 3 in transition where a far easier shot was available.
Also it is not as much that the bench>became starters>became bench>got DNP's guys are taking more or ill advisesd shots but more that they have lost their sense of who they are and what they are to do.

So I get his drift, but he could have worded it better

So Long And Thanks For All The Fish.

If you've done 6 impossible things today?
Then why not have Breakfast at Milliways!

Re: Pacers, Timberwolves not living up to billing

Like it or not, the spark that made Ron Artest so unpredictable was the very thing that made the Pacers so dangerous. His ability to dominate in different areas, attempting passes nobody expected him to try, or in taking shots nobody expected him to make, kept opponents on edge and the Pacers in every game. As good as O'Neal is as a do-everything forward who can score everywhere and nail his free throws, it is the very orthodox nature of his skill set that precludes the Pacers from surprising anyone.

Well said I think and I know alot may not agree , but when Ron was on the Floor we were tougher Defensive wise. It also gave us a very valid scoring threat which freed up J.O and others to score. We are way to predictable with our offense and I won't even rant on about our poor , poor defense. I remember so many games when Ron may have started off slow but in the blink of a eye here he is with 10 -15 pts in a quarter.

The Pacers aren't dangerous anymore , there predictable and even before Nov 19th our defense was much better than it is now. Teams have seen right through us ..let J.O get his points and put the rest on the teams back.

Re: Pacers, Timberwolves not living up to billing

The Pacers aren't making many excuses -- no point in that with 39 games left to play, though it hardly matters. The genesis of their problems is a stash of walking wounded that had them struggling to dress double figures even before the December melee in Auburn Hills..